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Serum superoxide dismutase activity in acute and chronic paediatric liver diseases

Mortada Hassan El-Shabrawi1, Naglaa Mohamed Kamal1, Fawzi A Halawa2

  • 1Paediatric Hepatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Arab Journal of Gastroenterology : the Official Publication of the Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology
|August 7, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were elevated in infants and children with medical cholestasis, suggesting a role for free radicals in this condition. This antioxidant enzyme may help mitigate liver injury.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hepatology
  • Biochemistry
  • Antioxidant Research

Background:

  • Liver disease in infants and children encompasses various etiologies, including cholestasis and hepatitis.
  • Oxidative stress, indicated by reactive oxygen species, is implicated in liver injury.
  • Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a key antioxidant enzyme.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To measure serum SOD levels in pediatric patients with acute and chronic liver diseases.
  • To correlate SOD levels with specific liver disease etiologies.
  • To elucidate the role of SOD as an antioxidant in pediatric liver conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective enrollment of 58 infants and children with diverse liver diseases (surgical cholestasis, medical cholestasis, autoimmune hepatitis, viral hepatitis).
  • Inclusion of 40 healthy, age- and sex-matched children as controls.
  • Serum SOD activity measurement using spectrophotometry.

Main Results:

  • Serum SOD levels were significantly increased in children with medical cholestasis compared to healthy controls (p<0.0001).
  • No significant differences in SOD activity were observed in patients with surgical cholestasis, autoimmune hepatitis, or viral hepatitis compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated serum SOD in medical cholestasis likely reflects increased hepatic SOD in response to reactive oxygen species.
  • Free radical reactions may contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of medical cholestasis.
  • SOD may play a protective role by minimizing liver injury in medical cholestasis.
Abstract

Keywords:
Liver diseaseMedical cholestasisOxidative stressSuperoxide dismutaseSurgical cholestasis

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